Tbilisi, 23 May 2014 - The Charter of Journalistic Ethics (the Charter), an independent, non-profit professional journalist association that promotes the values of freedom and democracy, has Tbilisi, 23 May 2014 - The Charter of Journalistic Ethics (the Charter), an independent, non-profit professional journalist association that promotes the values of freedom and democracy, has been systematically monitoring the media coverage of the 15 June local elections. This project is conducted in cooperation with the Slovak media-monitoring organization MEMO 98 and with the support of the National Endowment for Democracy (NED).

The Charter & MEMO 98 have sought to evaluate the broadcast media’s performance in providing objective and balanced coverage of contestants and their platforms so the citizens of Georgia can make well-informed choices at the ballot box. The project’s findings have been determined through a well-defined and rigorous methodology and are not intended to support any one candidate or political party, but the integrity of the media environment as a whole during the campaign season. On 1 April, the Charter commenced the monitoring of seven national TV channels (public broadcasters GPB, Adjara TV and private channels Imedi TV, Kavkazia TV, Maestro TV, Rustavi 2 and Tabula TV) and six regional broadcasters (Channel 25 from Adjara, Gurjaani TV from Kakheti, Kvemo Kartli TV from Kvemo Kartli, Odishi TV from Samegrelo, Rioni TV from Imereti, Trialeti TV from Shida Kartli).

The Charter uses methodology that has been developed by MEMO 98 which has carried out similar projects in 48 countries in the last 15 years. Given its comprehensive content-oriented approach, it is specially designed to provide in-depth feedback on pluralism and diversity in media reporting, including coverage of chosen subjects/themes. As such, the outcome of the monitoring is a detailed analysis and evaluation of the current level of political diversity in media reporting, examined in the proper context. The Charter & MEMO 98 will issue one more preliminary report ahead of election day and a comprehensive final report, including recommendations for potential improvements, in some four weeks.

Following is the summary of the main monitoring findings from the first phase of the project, covering April 2014 (1 – 30 April). See full report Charts: National TV Charts: Regional TV